Transportation system utilizing a stretchable train of cars and stretchable bandconveyors

Abstract

Disclosed is a transportation device comprised of a series of load carrying components connected together so that the distance between the components vary thereby allowing the components to move in a closed loop path. Rotatingly driven endless screws are positioned along the closed loop path and are engaged by a projection associated with the component as a particular component moves along a screw. The thread pitch of the screws is arranged to control the distance between adjacent component and the speed of the components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transportation device, comprising: a plurality of successive load carrying components, each of said components being connected to adjacent components by means which permit the distance between said adjacent components to vary from a mininum distance to a maximum distance and permit said components to move in a closed loop path;   a plurality of endless screws with grooves of predetermined thread pitch patterns and means for rotating said screws;   means associated with said components for engaging said components with said grooves when said components move along said screws, said patterns being arranged whereby the distance between adjacent components varies between said maximum distance and said minimum distance and the speed of said components varies between a maximum speed and a minimum speed as said means moves along the grooves of said endless screws.   
     
     
       2. The transportation device of claim 1 further comprising motors on at least some of said load carrying components to help said components move along said closed loop. 
     
     
       3. The transportation device of claim 2 further comprising means to measure the tension in the connecting means and means operable to start said motors when said tension is less than a predetermined tension and to stop said motors when said tension is greater than a predetermined tension. 
     
     
       4. The transportation device of claim 1, wherein said components comprise at least two elements, said elements being adapted to slide within one another whereby the distance between two adjacent components is equal to a constant maximum distance when said elements are completely expanded and to a constant minimum distance when said elements are contracted within each other. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1, wherein said means associated with said components comprises rods fixed on said components and having an end adapted to engage said grooves as said components move along said endless screws. 
     
     
       6. The transportation device of claim 1, wherein said endless screws are positioned along said path and said means for rotating said endless screws rotates each of said screws at a synchronous speed. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6, wherein said synchronous rotating speed is operable to maintain the number of components between two consecutive screws constant and wherein adjacent components are maintained at either said minimum distance or said maximum distance when traveling along portions of said closed loop path between screws. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 7, wherein the speed of said components is substantially constant when said components move along portions of said path between consecutive endless screws. 
     
     
       9. The transportation device of claim 1, wherein said components support a surface for conveying loads, said surface being expandable or contractable in length as said component distance increases or decreases, thereby forming a bandconveyor. 
     
     
       10. The transportation device of claim 1 further comprising at least one bandconveyor, positioned along a portion of said path between two consecutive endless screws where the distance between said components is at said minimum and said components are traveling at a generally constant speed and wherein the speed of said at least one bandconveyor is synchronized with said components along said portion of said path for permitting passengers to transfer from said bandconveyor to said component or from said component to said bandconveyor. 
     
     
       11. The transportation device of claim 1 or 10, wherein said components are cars. 
     
     
       12. The transportation device of claim 10, wherein said bandconveyor comprises a succession of load carrying elements driven in a second closed path by a second set of rotatingly driven endless screws having a variable pitch thread pattern wherein said thread pattern of second set of endless screws their speed of rotation and said pattern are such that the maximum speed of said bandconveyor is synchronized to the minimum speed of said components and further wherein the positioning of said closed paths are such that said bandconveyor and said components are adjacent to each other along portions of said closed loop paths where passengers transfer from said components to said bandconveyor or from said bandconveyor to said components. 
     
     
       13. The transportion device of claim 12, wherein said elements comprise a plurality of members adapted to slide one within another whereby the distance between two adjacent elements is equal to a constant maximum distance when said members are completely expanded and to a constant minimum distance when said members are contracted within each other. 
     
     
       14. The transportation device of claim 12, or 13, further comprising: a plurality of auxiliary devices;   means for moving said auxiliary devices along another closed loop path having portions adjacent to said second closed loop path; and   means for controlling the speed of said devices and their distance apart whereby said speed and distance are generally synchronized with said elements along said portions of said other closed loop path.   
     
     
       15. The transportation device of claim 14, wherein said devices are hand grips. 
     
     
       16. The transportation device of claim 14, wherein said devices are protection barriers. 
     
     
       17. The transportation device of claim 14, wherein said devices are seating means. 
     
     
       18. The transportation device of claim 14, wherein said auxiliary devices are adapted to be either separated or abutting and connected together by flexible connectors whereby the distance between two adjacent devices is generally constant and at a maximum when said devices are separated and is generally constant and at a minimum when said devices are abutting each other. 
     
     
       19. The transportation device of claim 18, wherein the means for controlling the speed of the devices comprises: a plurality of threaded rods positioned at locations along said other closed loop path;   means connecting said devices to said threaded rods when said devices move along said threaded rods; and   said means for moving said devices comprising means for rotating said threaded rods.   
     
     
       20. The transportion device of claim 19, wherein said means for connecting said devices and said threaded rods comprises rods fixed to said devices and having a projection for slidingly engaging said threaded rods as said devices move along said threaded rods. 
     
     
       21. The transportation device of claim 1 or 4 or 9 further comprising: a plurality of auxiliary devices;   means for moving said auxiliary devices along another closed loop path having portions adjacent to said closed loop path; and   means for controlling the speed of said devices and their distance apart whereby the speed and distance of said devices are generally synchronized with said components along said portions of said other closed loop path.   
     
     
       22. The transporation device of claim 21, wherein said devices are hand grips. 
     
     
       23. The transportion device of claim 21, wherein said devices are protection barriers. 
     
     
       24. The transportation device of claim 21, wherein said devices are seating means. 
     
     
       25. The transportation device of claim 21, wherein said auxiliary devices are adapted to be either separated or abutting and connected together by flexible connectors whereby the distance between two adjacent devices is generally constant and at a maximum when said devices are separated and is generally constant and at a minimum when said devices are abutting each other. 
     
     
       26. The transportation device of claim 25, wherein the means for controlling the speed of the devices comprises: a plurality of threaded rods positioned at locations along said other closed loop path;   means connecting said devices to said threaded rods when said devices move along said threaded rods; and   said means for moving said devices comprising means for rotating said threaded rods.   
     
     
       27. The transportation device of claim 26, wherein said means for connecting said devices and said threaded rods comprises rods fixed to said devices and having a projection for slidingly engaging said threaded rods as said devices move along said threaded rods. 
     
     
       28. The transportation device of claim 1 or 4 or 9 or 13, further comprising a plurality of ridges positioned on a load carrying surface of at least some of said components, said face further having slots whereby the ridges of some of said components slide within the slots on the load carrying surface of other of said components. 
     
     
       29. The transportation device of claim 1 or 4 or 9 or 13, wherein said components comprise at least two elements, an outermost element and an inner element adapted to slide within said outermost element to contract said component, said outermost element having a grooved load carrying surface and said inner element having ridges adapted to slide within said groove when said elements slide together. 
     
     
       30. A transportation device, comprising: a plurality of successive load carrying components arranged in groups, said groups being connected, at least one component of each of said groups being adapted to slide within an adjacent component of said group from a fully extended position to a fully contracted position;   means for moving said components along a closed loop path; and   means for controlling the speed of said components and their distance apart along substantially said entire closed loop path, said controlling means including endless screws positioned at locations along said path and operable to move said components along said path without rotation of said components in a direction transverse to said closed loop path.   
     
     
       31. The transportation device of claim 1 or 30, wherein said endless screws comprise an inner support and an outer pipe, said outer pipe having a groove therein to define the thread of the screw, said support and outer pipes being fixed together whereby forces between said components and said means for moving said components may be transmitted to said components by said pipes. 
     
     
       32. The transportation device of claim 30, further comprising rods fixed on said components and having an end adapted to engage said endless screws when said component moves along said endless screw. 
     
     
       33. The transportation device of claim 30, further including means for preventing adjacent components from sliding completely apart from each other. 
     
     
       34. The transportation device of claim 33, wherein the components between two consecutive endless screws are either completely extended or completely contracted amd their speed is approximately constant as they move along portions of said path between consecutive endless screws. 
     
     
       35. The transportation device of claim 30, wherein the distance between rods of adjacent components is substantially constant and at a maximum when said components are extended and substantially constant and at a minimum when said components are contracted. 
     
     
       36. The transportation device of claim 30, wherein at least some of said endless screws have a variable thread pitch whereby the distance between two adjacent components varies progressively from a maximum distance to a minimum distance or from a minimum distance to a maximum distance and the speed of said components varies from a generally constant maximum speed to a generally constant minimum speed or from a generally constant minimum speed to a generally constant maximum speed as said components move along said at least some endless screws.